Retrievable lifesaving cushion



April 23, 1968 B. R. PIGG RETRIEVABLE LIFESAVING CUSHION Filed Nov. 8, 1965 FIG.]

INVENTOR BENJAMIN 2. P1

1977'0/Q/VEY United States Patent 3,378,865 RETRIEVAELE LIFESAVING CUSHION Benjamin R. Pigg, 3975 Le Sage St., Lynwood, Calif. 90262 Filed Nov. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 506,713 2 Claims. (Cl. 9-13) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE cushion and the person grasping the same back to the vessel.

This invention relates to a retrievable lifesaving cushion which will float on water, and which can be retrieved by the thrower of the cushion after the throw the cushion should miss the person to whom it is thrown. An object of my invention is to provide a novel lifesaving cushion to which a cord or line is attached, so that the cushion may be readily retrieved and rethrown if the cushion should miss the person in the water.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel retrievable lifesaving cushion in which the cord or line attached thereto is enclosed in a pocket, which forms a part of the cushion when not in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel retrievable lifesaving cushion in which a pocket is provided to receive a folded line or cord therein, and which can be readily released from the pocket and one end retained by the thrower while the other end is attached to the cushion, thus enabling the thrower to retrieve the cushion if desired.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel retrievable lifesaving cushion which is simple in construction, and upon which an effective cord or line is attached to permit retrieving of the cushion.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a floating lifesaving cushion with my retrieving line attached thereto.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of a floating lifesaving cushion with the pocket in an open position.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a floating lifesaving cushion which is filled with a light material which will float, such as kapok. A pair of handles 2 and 3 are attached to the cushion 1 so that the cushion can be readily moved about as desired, and also to enable the thrower to have a more secure grasp and control of the cushion during the throwing procedure. Presently, if a person falls into the water the person in the boat can throw a floating cushion to him which will support him in the water. However, if the 3,378,865 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 ice cushion should miss the person in the water, there is no way in which the person in the boat can retrieve the cushion and again throw it to the person in the water. With my invention the cushion which has been thrown into the water can be retrieved and rethrown if necessary. This is accomplished as follows: A pocket 4 is stitched to one edge or side 5 of the cushion 1, and consists of two flaps 6 and 7, both of which are stitched or otherwise attached to one side of the cushion l, at least along one edge of each flap. If desired, one flap 7 may also be stitched or secured to the cushion 1 at both ends thereof, thus providing a partially enclosed pocket. The flaps 6 and 7 are secured together to provide an enclosed pocket by means of a plurality of snap fasteners 8. An outward pull on the snap fasteners 8 will thus release the flaps 6 and 7 so that they can move outwardly to expose the cord 9. The cord 9 is preferably formed of a very light and strong plastic material, although materials other than plastics can be used if desired. The cord may be formed of the plastic known as nylon. One end of the cord 9 is secured to the cushion 1 by means of the button 14 which is embeded within the cushion 1, and this button is of suificient size to prevent withdrawal of the cord 9. The opposite end of the cord 9 is secured to a ring 11 which is held by the thrower so that the cord 9 can be pulled inwardly to retrieve the cushion if necessary. The cord 9 is preferably folded within the pocket 4, and when the snaps 8 are fastened the ring 11 can encircle one of the snaps, thus holding the ring in its packed position, and also when the ring 11 is grasped and pulled it will unsnap one of the fasteners 8, and when the cushion 1 is thrown the other fasteners will unfasten, permitting the cord 9 to unfold as the cushion is thrown outwardly to the person in the water.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A retrievable lifesaving cushion filled with a floatable material, a cord, means securing one end of the cord to the cushion, the other end of the cord being loose, and releasable retaining means on the cushion to receive the cord therein, said means securing the cord to the cushion comprising a button attached to the cord, said button being positioned within the cushion, said means receiving the cord therein including a pocket located on a side wall of the cushion, a flap on the pocket and releasable means securing the flap and enclosing the cord.

2. A retrievable lifesaving cushion as recited in claim 1, and wherein the releasably means comprise snap fasteners on the flap to releasably secure the flap in closed position to retain the cord in the pocket.

References Cited.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,194,407 4/ 193 8 Rolstone 5345 2,368,558 1/1945 Maloney 914 2,851,706 9/1958 Patterson 9-312 X 2,342,868 2/ 1944 King 9-340 FOREIGN PATENTS 544,818 4/1962 Great Britain.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner.

T. MAJOR, Assistant Examner. 

